West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-12-09
ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.
How They are Made, What They Cost,
and the Way to Oil and Ad-
just Them.
Boston Herald.

NOUS lot Tue HlduuiaOeuiC VI INV "i
tificial limbs. About thirty years
ago Mr.. Douglass was wood-carv-
er and cabinet-maker, but he found
that this business was so monopo-
lized by large firms using machin-
cry that there was little opportunity
for the hand carver to make de-
cent living. Looking about for
some business in which there was
more chance for the skilled work
man, he finally decided to apply
himself to the manufacture of arti-
fetal limbs, and after much thought
and experiment he took out a pat
ent in 1860 Since then he has
built up an extensive business, and
sends artificial limbs to all parts of
the world. He has also the Govern
ment contract for furnishing limbs
FOR disabled soldiers and sailors,
and guarantees perfect satifactlon
by giving $4,000 bonds. The con-
tract price is S75 for each limb. but
the regular price ranges from 500
to $3.50. Before Mr.. Douglass time
artificial limbs were extremely COM
plicated, but Mr.. Douglass has
greatly simplitied their construction,
so that now the patient can himself
oil and adjust them; and he has at
the same time so closely counterfeit
ed nature that it is difficult to dis
tinguish the artificial member from
genuine flesh and blood. When an
artificial leg is to be made the stump
is tightly bandaged from fortnight
to six weeks to reduce the flesh
During this time at least dozen
measurements are taken of the leg
and of the stump, and by these
measurements rough leg is work
ed out, which is fitted and thorough
ly tested. This done, the leg Is
taken back to factory and finished.
The shaping of the leg depends en-
tirely on the eye ofthe workman, as
sisted by his anatomical knowledge
and the measurements. The wood
generally used is willow because it
does not warp and because it is
light, strong and capable of being
nicely finished. The patient is al
ways visited, if possible, but if not
the same measurements are taken
and the workman rarely fails to re-
produce exactly the size, shape and
appearance OF the remaining limb.
The foot of the artificial leg is hol
low, and even the toes are carved
with great eXactness.
They are hinged to the rest of the
foot and are connected with double
spring. which acts on the toes and
foot alternately. This spring is con-
nected with a string of sleeps gut
which passes back Of the foot, over
small half-pulley block in the heel,
and is attached TO an adjustable bar
in the calf of the leg by steel wire
with hook at the end. The other
enl of the small bar is connected
with the heel by two strings of cat
gut of larger size, which are so
stout that they can sustain the
weight of ton. 1t used to be the
method to pass this catgut through
two holes in the bottom of the foot
and then tie simple knot. But it
was found that friction even of
l-1000th of an inch would cause the
catgut to break in time, so Mr.. Doug
lass now passes the cords into
small hole in front of the heel and
there fastens them by a steel ferule.
In the center of the half-pulley
block in the heel is small steel AK
lie, and the block is firmly fixed
against a small piece OF hickory.
The axle, with the elasticity and the
adjustable bar in the calf of the leg,
allows the foot to turn with the pill
ancy of the real article. If the am
putation is below the knee, the ad-
justment to the stump is made by
socket of soft leather lined with the
finest buckskin, and is fastened to
the stump by lacings. This socket
is attached to the artificial legs
with strong steel bars running per-
pendicularly. If the amputation is
above the knee, the socket is of
wood, instead of buckskin, and is
fastened to the body by elastic
straps running over the shoulders.
The knee joint is the finest piece of
workmanship in the leg. The con-
nection of the artificial leg and thigh
is sometimes made by cords of
thread running up the leg and fast
ened to the thigh by straps, but Mr..
Douglass has an ingenious method
of his own. A pliable strap of steel
is run to bar in the lower end of
the artificial thigh, throwing the
weight of the body almost equally
on the bar and the bolt TIE great
est care is exercised in the maru
facture of the bars. bolts and steel
work OF the leg. In order d pre-
vent friction the bolts are made as
hard as possible, and rho remaining
steel work is m:Le little softer.
As the bolts are interchangeable
whenever slight wear is noticed a
new surface can be exposed TO wear
br turning them quarter round.
The leg being shaped and fitted is